25 Pearls of Wisdom From Former US Presidents

The job of the President of the United States is extremely challenging, and it comes with a tremendous amount of responsibility and power. The people who have occupied this role have received varying degrees of acclaim for their work — but regardless of where presidential scholars rank them in terms of effectiveness, there’s a lot we can learn from our leaders, past and present.

As this current election cycle ramps up for its final weeks, we may find ourselves thinking about what previous presidents brought to the job. Why not take a look back at some of the thought-provoking ideas U.S. presidents have shared over the years about work, career, and leadership. Here are a few interesting quotes to consider.

1. “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy

2. “The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

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3. “Confidence … thrives on honesty, on honor, on the sacredness of obligations, on faithful protection and on unselfish performance. Without them it cannot live.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

4. “Associate with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for it is better to be alone than in bad company.” – George Washington

7. “We can’t help everyone, but everyone can help someone.” – Ronald Reagan

8. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” – John Quincy Adams

9. “Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time.” – Theodore Roosevelt

10. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln

11. “Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don’t interfere as long as the policy you’ve decided upon is being carried out.” – Ronald Reagan

12. “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

13. “Work is about more than making a living, as vital as that is. It’s fundamental to human dignity, to our sense of self-worth as useful, independent, free people.” – William J. Clinton

14. “You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one. I don’t believe in little plans. I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now.” – Harry S Truman

15. “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” – Thomas Jefferson

16. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

17. “In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves … self-discipline with all of them came first.” – Harry S. Truman

18. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

19. “A truly American sentiment recognizes the dignity of labor and the fact that honor lies in honest toil.” – Grover Cleveland

20. “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy

21. “Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.” – George Washington

22. “Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln

23 “Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching.” – Thomas Jefferson